Pharmacy technicians

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Assist pharmacists to maintain inventories of medications and prescription records of pharmaceutical products

• Assess prescriptions for completeness and ensure information is accurate

• Gather and enter client information in databases and prepare medications for clients in collaboration with pharmacists

• Compound pharmaceutical products such as intravenous injections, oral solutions, ointments and creams

• Process payment of prescriptions and other pharmacy services including direct billing to third party insurers

• Provide instructions on how to use health aids, and medical devices such as drug administration devices and monitoring devices

• May help with scheduling and workflow.

• Pharmacy technicians usually require a two-year pharmacy technician college program or completion of a two- to three-year college program in pharmaceutics and supervised practical training.

• Completion of the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) certification exams is required for pharmacy technicians.

• Registration with a regulatory body is required for pharmacy technicians in all provinces except Quebec.

• Pharmacy technicians may progress to supervisory positions with experience.